Need new build guidance

[cliffhucker]

I am working on my list for a new build.

I am not a gamer. And dont plan on gaming. BUT would not mind having some of capabilities/qualities i.e. graphics?
I want a system that is fast.
I currently have an old athlon on gateway and like it, so I want to stick with athlon.
I want a somewhat quiet system and one I that runs cool.
I do a lot of surfing, disc burnin, photography stuff, writing, mulkti-tasking (I always have to much going on)
I want a high -end dual core but dont want to spend the cash now but want a mobo that i can use for Athlon 64 now and go to dual core later. S939?
I want decent onboard graphics and sound.
I dont know about OC'ing and dont plan on it.
I want a stable,fast reliable machine.

I suppose I need a case,mobo and cpu to build off-of.

I am thinking:
MOBO (ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4) $84 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131569
CPU (AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice ) $201
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103533
or (AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego) for 10$ >
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103539
CASE&Pow (Black Antec Quiet Super Mid Tower Computer Case w/ Antec 350W) $82
http://www.directron.com/slk3700bqe.html
Would i want optional fans? front one?
HDD Something ATA, 7200RPM, 8MG cache, ~150GB ??
RAM 2x512 ? fastest?
MS XP Pro or, should I wait for Vista?

DVD drives I can figure out.
I have new lcd monitor,keyboard, mouse.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for any guidance

 

[BiGyLiLuPdAmIdL]

What kind of ram are you going to get? I suggest 2 x512 mb sticks of ddr 400

 

[cliffhucker]

new build

BiGyLiLuPdAmIdL

definately 2 sticks rather than 1.

I just realized the mobo I listed does not have an onboard video/graphics. Like I said, I am not a gamer and only want decent graphics.

Should I geta board like this and add a graphics card? Would that take more power?

Any suggestions on another board?

Are smaller harddrives faster than big ones? Should I not oversize my hdd?

Is San Diego better than Venice?

Thanks

 

[Trifid]

Any card will be fine, to fit the PCIE slot a 6200 would probally be your cheapest bet. I don't know what you mean by decent graphics though. Are you doing 3d drawing?

A bigger hdd is faster than a smaller one, but then you need to start looking into cooling for it. I wouldn't be too bothered about the speed. Get the size that suits you.

San diego is a venice core with 1mb L2 cache.

 

[cliffhucker]

new build

Trifid

No, I Aam not doing any 3D drawing. When I say graphics I am thinking of what all the gamers are concerned with. And I see that some mobos have "onboard video" and some do not. I am assumming gamers get boards w/out onboard and getter better add-on graphic/video cards?? Make any sense? Is graphics and video 2 different things?

I just want to have some of the qualities of a gamer but not necessarily for gaming., if that makes sense.

I want my online video viewing to be decent and ant digital phots to look there best.

I am assuming the cheaper way for me to go would be to get a mobo with "onboard video" rather than the other way so onboard may be:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128001

and a mobo I need an additiopnal card would be:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131570

Maybe you would be willing to give me the jist of it all in a nutshell.

And I am assuming the Sandiego is a bit better than the venice becuase of the larger cache? At least if I want to have more multi tasing cpabilities. ie burn disc while in word etc.?

Sorry if my questions are lame, I am trying to learn this stuff and am overwhelmed, but not burried, yet!

Thanks

 

[Trifid]

The integrated graphics in those motherboards will be fine. Sorry, I didn't say the Venice had 512 cache.

Yeah, we pretty much ignore the onboard graphics (even though it would be useful when checking if videocards work.

I would go for the Gigabyte motherboard out of those two, mainly as I don't like the cheap ASUS motherboards. You will need to make sure that you get a 24 pin PSU. The 6150 is meant to be similar to the 6200 GPU in tests (from what I have heard.)

 

[cliffhucker]

new build

Trifid,

Thanks for the reply and input.

I am veering towards a board withonboard graphics, but I can not find one that has very good reviews!

Is Gigabyte generally a better board than Asus?

I would go with this board if it were not for the reviews:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128001


Thanks again

 

[Trifid]

Gigabyte has been known as an OK company. I am very pleased with my ASUS board, but not so with their cheaper ones (I felt embarrased building a PC with a ASUS A8N-SLI SE.) My Abit board had endless problems, and is now on top of my wardrobe. I haven't had any experience with MSI should be a good company. And DFI is known as the King of overclocking, but there boards have been said to be a bit of a hit or miss.

You should go with what ever board you feel most happy with, and use these forums as guidlines, but at the end of the day, go with what you prefere the best.

 

[cliffhucker]

new build

Trifid

Sounds like good advice.

What about Foxconn?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813186086

I have not heard much of it?

I will look into what MSI and DSI have to offer.

Should I learn to overclock? Get more out of my system, or would increase the chances of loosing stability, cooling sound (things I want)?


Thanks again,
Cheers

 

[Trifid]

Foxconn is a low end motherboard, so I wouldn't personally go with them.

Overclocking is a person preference. I require my PC, and when I last overclocked I didn't have PCI lock on (I thought it was.) and I lost some stuff on my hdd that I would of prefered to keep (need to remeber to back up, but I never do, lost several skins and the 3d drawing I was attempting.) All that was needed to do to fix it was a format. The temperatures don't really increase much until you start upping the voltage. I will probally overclock slightly when I have the time, and I feel upto a weekends work slowly upping the bus speed, checking stability, and going further.